Capital Region · Iceland
Reykjavík in May
In May, Reykjavík averages a daytime high of 9 °C and a night-time low of 2 °C, with about 65 mm of rain over the month. Reykjavík has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here.
- Average high
- 9 °C
- Average low
- 2 °C
- Rain in the month
- 65 mm
- Daylight on 15 May
- 18 h 30 min
- Comfortable month
- No
- Places to stay
- 75
When to go
How May compares with the rest of the year in Reykjavík
May is the 5th warmest month in Reykjavík by average daytime high; across the year the highs run from 1 °C to 14 °C and the lows from -4 °C to 8 °C. By day, May is 3 °C warmer than April, and June is 3 °C warmer than May.
May brings 65 mm of rain, less than the monthly average of 89 mm (1065 mm a year); it is tied for the 10th wettest month.
On 15 May the sun is up for about 18 h 30 min, against 4 h 10 min at the shortest and 21 h at the longest point of the year (calculated from the latitude, sunrise to sunset).
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1 °C | -4 °C | 106 mm | |
| February | 2 °C | -4 °C | 110 mm | |
| March | 2 °C | -3 °C | 96 mm | |
| April | 5 °C | -1 °C | 66 mm | |
| May | 9 °C | 2 °C | 65 mm | |
| June | 12 °C | 6 °C | 52 mm | |
| July | 14 °C | 8 °C | 65 mm | |
| August | 13 °C | 7 °C | 78 mm | |
| September | 10 °C | 5 °C | 111 mm | |
| October | 6 °C | 1 °C | 102 mm | |
| November | 3 °C | -2 °C | 100 mm | |
| December | 2 °C | -4 °C | 114 mm |
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
When to go
Is May a good time to visit Reykjavík?
Not by the measure used here: the average high of 9 °C is below 18 °C. No month in Reykjavík meets it.
The measure is about weather for a city stay only; it says nothing about events, school holidays or prices.
Public holidays in Iceland in May
Nationwide public holidays; shops and offices may close on these dates.
Where to stay
Where to stay in Reykjavík
This guide lists 75 places to stay in Reykjavík, hotels recorded in Wikidata. By straight-line distance from the centre: under 1 km, 43; 1–3 km, 20; 3–10 km, 11; 10 km or more, 1.
Sources: climate from CRU TS v4.10 (Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia; Open Database License), 1991–2020 averages; day length calculated from the latitude; public holidays from python-holidays (MIT); places to stay from each operator's own public pages and Wikidata. How this guide is made.